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🔢 5th grade math · Counting & Numbers

Powers of ten

The exponent counts the tens: 10 × 10 × 10 = 10³. Multiplying by 10² moves the point 2 places right.

Worked example

102 = ?
Answer: 100
102 is 2 tens multiplied: 10 × 10 = 100. It is a 1 followed by 2 zeros. Answer: 100.

For grown-ups: Place value with decimals; powers of 10. Below: three problems to try with the worked answers, and a free printable sheet. Children can practise the same skill as a game, with no sign-up and no ads.

  • CCSS 5.NBT.A.1–2
What this practises, for teachers

Practices place value with decimals; powers of 10 (5.NBT.A.1–2). A printable sheet with its answer key, worked answers on the page, no accounts.

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For your class

🖨️ Printable sheet and key

On the board with this skill:

Try three

  1. 10? = 100. What is the exponent?
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: 2
    A power of ten has the same number of zeros as its exponent. 100 has 2 zeros, so it is 102. The exponent is 2. Answer: 2.
  2. 95 × 102 = ?
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: 9500
    Multiplying by 102 moves the decimal point 2 places to the right (add zeros if you need to). 95 × 102 = 9500. Answer: 9500.
  3. 94.1 ÷ 103 = ?
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: 0.0941
    Dividing by 103 moves the decimal point 3 places to the left. 94.1 ÷ 103 = 0.0941. Answer: 0.0941.

Before and after

Learn first: Round big numbers (4th)

Comes next: Irrational numbers (8th)

Name: ____________________Date: ____________Score: ____ / 12

Powers of ten (5th grade)

  1. 10 × 10 = 10?. What is the exponent?
  2. 102 = ?
  3. 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 = 10?. What is the exponent?
  4. 10 × 10 × 10 = 10?. What is the exponent?
  5. 10? = 1,000. What is the exponent?
  6. 10? = 100. What is the exponent?
  7. 104 = ?
  8. 1.80 × 104 = ?
  9. 2.27 × 104 = ?
  10. 0.91 × 105 = ?
  11. 58.0 ÷ 103 = ?
  12. 103 = ?

Answer key

  1. 2
  2. 100
  3. 4
  4. 3
  5. 3
  6. 2
  7. 10000
  8. 18000
  9. 22700
  10. 91000
  11. 0.058
  12. 1000

More 5th grade skills: all 5th grade math skills, or every grade at math skills.